Grand jury upgrades charges against two women in Shelton State student's slaying

A Tuscaloosa County grand jury upgraded charges against two women accused in the death of a Shelton State College student in April. Shydelle "Shy" Walker, 20, and Tamarra "Pooh" Wilder, 18, are now charged with capital murder. Investigators charged them with felony murder in April.

Tuscaloosa County Jail

By Stephanie TaylorStaff Writer

Published: Tuesday, July 2, 2013 at 4:27 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, July 2, 2013 at 4:27 p.m.

A Tuscaloosa County grand jury upgraded charges against two women accused in the death of a Shelton State Community College student in April.

Shydelle “Shy” Walker, 21, and Tamarra “Pooh” Wilder, 18, are now charged with capital murder. Investigators charged them with felony murder in April.

They could face the death penalty or life in prison if convicted of capital murder.

“Based on these indictments, it is clear that the grand jury found that these two women were sufficiently involved in the circumstances that led to and followed Hunter Callahan’s death, that they too, should be charged with capital murder,” said Tuscaloosa County Deputy District Attorney Lyn Head.

Homicide investigators first charged Kiunte “Felon” Furr and Timothy “Junior” Thornton with capital murder in the days after Callahan’s death. They charged Walker and Wilder with the less serious felony murder charges after learning that they were with the men and had planned to rob Callahan of drugs and money that night.

A grand jury met in June and agreed to upgrade the charges against Walker and Wilder to capital murder during the course of a robbery and by shooting into a vehicle. The indictments were returned June 20.

Both women were arrested Monday and are being held at the Tuscaloosa County Jail with no bond.

Callahan, 17, was a Shelton State student from Marengo County who was living at a house in Cottondale.

According to investigators, all four of the suspects met Callahan at River Road Apartments on the night of April 9. Court documents state that Wilder was driving the vehicle and that the four had planned to rob Callahan. The documents state that Thornton reached into the passenger side of Callahan’s vehicle before Furr walked to the driver’s side and fired shots into his car.

Residents of the condos found Callahan and called 911. He was taken to DCH Regional Medica Center, where he was pronounced dead from two gunshot wounds.

<p>A Tuscaloosa County grand jury upgraded charges against two women accused in the death of a Shelton State Community College student in April.</p><p>Shydelle “Shy” Walker, 21, and Tamarra “Pooh” Wilder, 18, are now charged with capital murder. Investigators charged them with felony murder in April.</p><p>They could face the death penalty or life in prison if convicted of capital murder.</p><p>“Based on these indictments, it is clear that the grand jury found that these two women were sufficiently involved in the circumstances that led to and followed Hunter Callahan's death, that they too, should be charged with capital murder,” said Tuscaloosa County Deputy District Attorney Lyn Head.</p><p>Homicide investigators first charged Kiunte “Felon” Furr and Timothy “Junior” Thornton with capital murder in the days after Callahan's death. They charged Walker and Wilder with the less serious felony murder charges after learning that they were with the men and had planned to rob Callahan of drugs and money that night. </p><p>A grand jury met in June and agreed to upgrade the charges against Walker and Wilder to capital murder during the course of a robbery and by shooting into a vehicle. The indictments were returned June 20.</p><p>Both women were arrested Monday and are being held at the Tuscaloosa County Jail with no bond. </p><p>Callahan, 17, was a Shelton State student from Marengo County who was living at a house in Cottondale.</p><p>According to investigators, all four of the suspects met Callahan at River Road Apartments on the night of April 9. Court documents state that Wilder was driving the vehicle and that the four had planned to rob Callahan. The documents state that Thornton reached into the passenger side of Callahan's vehicle before Furr walked to the driver's side and fired shots into his car.</p><p>Residents of the condos found Callahan and called 911. He was taken to DCH Regional Medica Center, where he was pronounced dead from two gunshot wounds.</p><p>Reach Stephanie Taylor at stephanie.taylor@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0210.</p>